aeschylus - Conscious Evolution TV

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absent in the flesh, is never in name far from me. right that hands unclean should touch the altars of
Behold this cursed woman, see the web of trickery the gods, though the righteous deserved to find a
she hath woven I yet comes she cowering to Apollo's refuge there from their oppressors, instead of good
altar, thinking to escape the punishment of her mis- and bad alike having recourse to the same divine
deeds. protection with equal success.
Cr. I warn thee not to slay me, both in my own Enter PYTHIAN PRIESTESS.
name and in his at whose altar I am stationed. Pythian Priestess. Refrain thyself, my son; for I,
Ion. What hast thou to do with Phrebus? the priestess of Phrebus, chosen from all the maids
Cr. This body I devote unto that god to keep. of Delphi in accordance with the tripod's ancient
Ion. And yet thou wert for poisoning his minister? rite, have left that prophetic seat, and am passing
Cr. But thou wert not Apollo's any longer, but o'er this threshold.
thy father's. Ion. Hail to thee, dear mother mine-mother,
Ion. Nay, I was his son, that is, in absence of a though thou didst not give me birth.
real father. P. P. Yes, so have I ever been called, and the title
Cr. Thou wert so then; now 'tis I, not thou, who causes me no regret.
am Apollo's. Ion. Hast heard how this woman plotted my
Ion. Well, thou art not guiltless now, whereas I death?
was then. P. P. I have; thou, too, art wrong because of thy
Cr. I sought to slay thee as an enemy to my house. harshness.
Ion. And yet I never invaded thy country, sword Ion. Am I not to pay back murderers in their coin?
in hand. P. P. Wives ever hate the children of a former
Cr. Thou didst; and thou it was that wert casting marriage.
a fire-brand into the halls of Erechtheus. Ion. As I hate stepdames for their evil treatment
Ion. What sort of brand or flaming fire was it? of me.
Cr. Thou didst design to seize my home against P. P. Do not so; but leaving, as thou art, the shrine,
my will, and make it thine. and setting forth for thy country-
Ion. What! when my father offered me a kingdom Ion. What then wouldst thou advise me do?
of his getting. P. P. With clean hands seek Athens, attended by
Cr. How had the sons of lEolus anv share in the good omens.
realm of Pallas? - Ion. Surely any man hath clean hands who slays
Ion. Arms, not words, he brought to champion his enemies.
it. P. P. Do not thou do this; but take the counsel
Cr. No mere ally could enter into an inheritance that I have for thee.
in my land. Ion. Say on; whate'er thou say'st will be prompted
Ion. And was it then from fear of consequences by thy good will.
that thou didst try to slay me? P. P. Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms?
Cr. Yes, lest I should myself perish if thou wert Ion. An ancient ark with chaplets crowned.
spared. P. P. Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn
Ion. Doth thy childlessness make thee envious babe.
that my father found me? Ion. What sayest thou? there is novelty in the
Cr. And thou, wilt thou rob the childless of her story thou art introducing.
home? P. P. Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret,
Ion. Had I then no share at all in my father's heri- but now I show them.
tage? Ion. How earnest thou to hide them on that day,
Cr. All that his sword and shield had won was now long ago, when thou didst find me?
thine; and thine alone. P. P. The god wished to have thee as his servant
Ion. Quit the altar and sanctuary built for gods. in his courts.
Cr. Go bid thy own mother, wherever she is, do Ion. Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know
that. this?
Ion. Shalt thou escape all punishment, after try- P. P. By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses
ing to kill me? thee from this land.
Cr. Not if thou choose to butcher me within this Ion. Is it by his command thou keepest these reishrine.
ics, or why?
Ion. What joy can it give thee to be slain amid P. P. Loxias put in my heart that daythe
sacred wreaths? Ion. What purpose? Oh! speak, finish thy story.
Cr. There is one whom I shall grieve of those who P. P. To preserve what I had found until the preshave
grieved me. ent time.
Ion. Ohl 'tis passing strange how badly the deity Ion. What weal or woe doth this import to me?
hath enacted laws for mortal men, contrary to all P. P. Herein were laid the swaddling-clothes in
sound judgment; for instance, they should ne'er which thou wert enwrapped.
have suffered impious men to sit at their altars, but Ion. These relics thou art producing may help me
should have driven them away; for it was nowise to find my mother.
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